Auto Bits: Tips and tricks to keep your car looking new this spring

Monday

Apr 23, 2018 at 12:08 PM

Tip of the Week

The colder weather is fleeting, flowers are blossoming and the grass is just a little greener, which means spring is finally here. While most of your time will be spent preparing your home, clothes and family calendars for the warmer weather, it’s important not to forget about your car.

In fact, you can celebrate springtime by spending some time enjoying the fresh outdoor air and showing your car some love ahead of upcoming family vacations and summer road trips with friends. Start with these smart and simple tips to improve your ride:

Freshen up the interior

Interior and exterior cleaning makes a big difference in keeping a car looking and driving its best, but that doesn’t solve odor issues. To finalize spring car prep and maintenance, make sure to use a product that will leave the car smelling as good as it looks. Try innovative and discrete vent sticks and mini diffusers such as those from Refresh Your Car! (which come in a wide variety of scents, like Lemon Lime Sunshine). They are an affordable, long-lasting way to keep a car smelling great.

Clean and protect your interior

The interior, especially leather, is the most used and abused part of a car. Over time, constant use and sun damage can result in you leather interior drying out, causing it to fade, crack and rip. One quick and trusted way to address this issue is to use Lexol Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. The easy two-step process will help clean, restore and protect a car’s interior, keeping it looking and feeling like new.

Check your battery

The colder the weather, the harder a battery and charging system need to work in a car. Start by making sure the battery is mounted correctly and the connections are free from corrosion. Also, consider replacing the battery if it’s older than five years, which will ensure you don’t get stranded out on the road.

Check and replace basic car items

Before heading out on any lengthy adventures, make sure the car is up-to-date on oil changes. During the oil change a technician should also check and replenish other fluids like the brake, transmission, windshield wiper and power steering fluids, as well as your coolant. This often forgotten about maintenance will help a car run smoothly for months to come.

Wash and wax

No matter the season, a car that is driven daily is constantly battling the elements, which can cause damage to its exterior. Washing regularly and waxing at least twice a year is an easy way to keep a car looking its best, protecting it from damaging UV rays, road debris, tree sap and rusting. When washing and protecting, don’t forget about tires and wheels. Try a spray-on cleaner, like Eagle One A2Z All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, which clings to the dirt on the surface of most wheels and tires, easily removing brake dust, grime and grease; giving your wheels and tires a spotless, professional look.

— BrandpointDid you knowThe National Safety Council’s Road to Zero Coalition recently released a comprehensive report laying out strategies for ending roadway deaths in the United States by 2050. In it were three main strategies to reduce roadway fatalities:

Double down on what works through proven, evidence-based strategies;Advance life-saving technology in vehicles and infrastructure; andPrioritize safety by adopting a safe systems approach and creating a positive safety culture.In the short term, the report stresses enforcing and strengthening current traffic safety laws, providing new resources for traffic safety researchers and practitioners, and supporting those who design and build roads and vehicles.

Car statsAAA warns that the majority of U.S. vehicles are at a higher-than-average risk for a breakdown. According to a new analysis of the company’s roadside data, more than half of the vehicles on the road are 10 years and older and those older cars are twice as likely to end up stranded on the side of the road compared to newer vehicles.

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